Katie Stewart hit a home run, Mac Morgan and Teagan Kavan combined on a 3-hitter and Texas defeated Tennessee 2-0 on Monday to reach the Women’s College World Series championship series for the third time in four years.

Kavan, who threw a complete game with eight strikeouts in Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Oklahoma, came on in relief of Morgan in the fifth inning and didn’t allow a hit the rest of the way. She struck out the Volunteers’ Emma Clarke to end the game.

Texas (54-11) will play either Oklahoma or Texas Tech in the best-of-three series, which starts Wednesday. Those teams played in Monday night’s other semifinal.

Karlyn Pickens, a National Fastpitch Coaches Association first-team All-American, allowed just one earned run on five hits and struck out nine for Tennessee (47-17).

Horse racing

Journalism opens as the Belmont favorite >> Kentucky Derby runner-up and Preakness winner Journalism opened as the 8-5 favorite in the Belmont Stakes when post positions were drawn for the final leg of the Triple Crown.

Derby winner Sovereignty was set as the second choice on the morning line at odds of 2-1 and drew the No. 2 post. Journalism, near the outside with the No. 7 post, is the only horse running in all three Triple Crown races.

No. 6 Baeza, who finished third in Kentucky, opened at 4-1. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s Rodriguez, who was scratched from the Derby because of a minor foot bruise and held out of the Preakness, was next at 6-1 and will leave the starting gate from the No. 3 post.

MLB

Royals call up top prospect Caglianone >> The Kansas City Royals have called up top prospect Jac Caglianone in the hopes of jump-starting their languishing offense, and the slugging first baseman and outfielder is expected to make his major league debut on Tuesday night in St. Louis.

Caglianone’s promotion comes amid a season in which the Royals have struggled to score runs. They’ve hit a big league-worst 34 homers and have scored 194 runs in all, tied with Pittsburgh ahead of only lowly Colorado heading into Monday night’s games.

NFL

Detroit Lions center Ragnow retires >> Detroit center Frank Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who was key to coach Dan Campbell’s Lions revival, announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday after seven seasons.

Ragnow, 29, posted to social media that he has tried to convince himself he’s feeling well enough to play, “but I’m not,” he said.

Barkley announced as Madden cover athlete >> Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley was announced as EA Sports’ cover athlete for the Madden NFL 26 game.

Barkley’s sensational backward hurdle over a defender from Week 9 of last year’s Super Bowl-winning season is depicted on the standard cover. The deluxe edition features a tight shot of Barkley in his game-day gear.

Barkley last season set an NFL single-season rushing record, postseason included, topping the mark of 2,476 yards set by Terrell Davis.